Blue ribbon trout streams and water temperatures

[Gavin]

I haven't heard anything about it. They have been planting brown trout eggs in Vibert Boxes out a Westover Farm, trying to establish a native stream bred population. They have planted eggs two years in a row, and had some success with it.

 

[trouty mouth]

I like when MDC stocks browns. They seem a little more smart than the rainbows when it comes to running away from people. I think maybe the white ribbon streams would do good with browns over rainbows to keep holdover fish longer. 

In 2020 or 2021 MDC put browns in the city lakes/ponds and those fish hung around for a while. They seemed to roam the edges of the lakes and not hang out in the middle just munching on powerbait. 

[mic]

I wonder why Browns are not stocked more.  I assume it is cheaper and quicker to raise rainbows.  

[fishinwrench]

On the Niangua and NFOW the browns seem to do best on the lower reaches of the stream.  To me that would suggest that they can tolerate the typical Ozark climate better than rainbows.   

This one was far FAR away (downstream) from any stocking location......and look how healthy it was! 

[mic]

55 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

On the Niangua and NFOW the browns seem to do best on the lower reaches of the stream.  To me that would suggest that they can tolerate the typical Ozark climate better than rainbows.   

This one was far FAR away (downstream) from any stocking location......and look how healthy it was! 

 

Would that also say that Rainbows are better suited for the water closer to the big springs?  

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, mic said:

Would that also say that Rainbows are better suited for the water closer to the big springs?  

Dunno, but I can tell ya that there is a particular area (zone) on the Niangua where par marked little rainbows are most common.   Doesn't seem to matter the season either.   It can be the coldest part of winter....or the hottest part of summer.   About a 200 yard stretch.  

I assume that natural reproduction is like that in all of our Ozark trout streams.   There's likely a pattern to it but I don't fish the others enough to know.  

[Gavin]

The rainbows would likely do well if left on their own but you would have to close the trout parks to make it work on the trout park streams. That will not happen ever I think. Missouri is a status quo state.